Domestic violence figures on up

DOMESTIC abuse in the county is reaching record levels, figures from Lincolnshire Police reveal.

Reports of domestic abuse to the county’s police force have increased every year for the past five years, with the figures for 2011/12 on course to reach a new high.

Det Supt Shaun West, Head of Public Protection at Lincolnshire Police, said: “The police believe the increase is down to more people coming forward to report domestic violence, rather than an increase in abuse.

“We have made huge strides forward in terms of the way we deal with domestic abuse in recent years. We have specialist officers dedicated to supporting men and women in this area and the benefits have been proven by increased reporting year-on-year.

“This demonstrates people’s confidence in us.”

l Figures released by Lincolnshire Police show the force seized five million indecent images of children in 2011.

Lincolnshire Police put the high figure - more than three times the number in 2010 - is down to the setting up of a Paedophile Online Investigation Team.